Massage instrument



L. CASPER MASSAGE INSTRUMENT Nov. 27, 1928.

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS CASPER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MASSAGE INSTRUMENT.

Application filed NovemberB, 1924. Serial No. 748,667.

7 The object of my invention is to provide an extremely simple means of producing a rolling or kneadingaction in combination with that of a vibratory action upon the human body, and to accomplish this without the impelling medium of any electrical or external mechanical power whatsoever.

To these ends, my invention consists in the combination of elements hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims.

Fig. 1 is a front View of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a. cross-section detail of Fig. 1 on a line 22 giving a clear "iew of the ratchet and gear action upon the vibrating fingers or tappers 9.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 is a handle terminating into a. metal ferrule 3. Fitted into the ferrule 3 and handle 1, is a tube 41 which supports an arbor or frame 5. 6 are a series of four massage rollers which may be made of metal, wood, rubber or other suitable material. The rollers are secured at their axis to a shaft 7 which is free to revolve in a bearing 8 on the frame '5. In the space between the rollers are fingers or tappers 9. The fingers are attached to a shaft 10 which is free to move in bearings 11 in the arbor or frame 5. There is also secured to the shaft 10, a

ratchet 12 which is held into contact with the top of the teeth of gear wheel 13 or between the same by pressure exerted by a coiled spring 14 attached to the extended portion 15 of ratchet 12 (see Fig. 2). The coiled spring :15 conveniently located in the hollow tube 4.. The coiled spring is shown in this manner as a matter of simple illustration. It is not necessary to have the coiled spring in the tube as shown. Any spring that will tend to keep the ratchet 12 bearing against the gear wheel 13 will sufiice. This spring may for instance. be coiled around the shaft 10 and secured to the frame 5. In a similar manner to the massage rollers 6 the ratchet wheel 12 is firmly secured at its axis to the shaft 7 and will therefore revolve similarly to the movement ofthe massage rollers 6. The rotating movement of the massage rollers will cause the ratchet to alternately fall in the space between. the an top of the teeth and'the hollow of the same of the gear wheel 13. The ratchet 12 being on the same shaft with the fingers 9 willin turn cause the latter to swing back and forth in the spaces between the massage rollers.

the body. vWhen this done the fingers 9 impelled by the action of the ratchet wheel and ratchet 12 move back and forth striking the body at a rate in accord with the speed of the revolution of the massage rollers.

Alny number from two up of rollers may be user.

It will thus be seen that my invention comprises a compact arrangement whereby the human body may be massaged by means of the rollers and at the same time receive beneficial and pleasing effects of vibration produced by the fork or fingers. 'The device is also such that it can be made especially applicable and convenient for facial massag yet be effective for the body as well. T0 attain this result it is only necessary to either reduce the width or the number of the rollers in order to confine the width'of the head of the instrument to narrower limits thereby making it more readily applicable for reaching such parts of the body that would not be as accessible with a larger and bulkier device. For instance, such as reaching the hollows of the face or neck.

The device as may be particularly seen from Fig. 2 in the drawings can be applied equally as well on either side of the head of the instrument, the fork or fingers being so extended as to be applicable for either forward or backward manipulation. The fork or fingers oscillate parallel to the inner surfaces of the rollers. The rollers therefore act as a guard so that successful vibration may be continued even when applied to irregular surfaces of the body. The compactness and extreme simplicity of the device together with the ease that it can be operated make it ideal for self ap )lication.

ow having described my invention, what I claim 1s 7 1. In a massage lnstrument having ahead,

a handle attached to a shaft supported by said 2 head, aseries of spaced rollers mounted on the shaft, a gear wheel mounted upon the shaft and between two of the rollers,'a vibrating finger between two of said rollers, and means co-acting with said gear wheel to vibrate said finger, the applicator end of said finger being normally in the space between the rollers,and.

adapted tooperate upon the body or flesh of the operator. 7

2. In combination, a handle having a shaftcarrying frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of spaced rollers and a cam wheel keyed to the shaft between two spring means inthe handle to hold the ratchet in position on the cam Wheel; i V

4, In adevice of the character described,

tworollers withia gear Vheel between them inountedon' shaft, 2' -vibrating finger between the rollers, and means co-actlng with the gear Wheel to vlbrate the finger, the applicator end of the'fingerbeing normally in 20 the spacebetween the rollers, and being adaptm.

ed to operate upon the body or flesh otithe' operator. v LOUIS CASPER. 

